Comments on: Swearing in the Workplace?

By: Casey Dawes

Casey Dawes — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:08:17 +0000

While I believe that everyone will swear once in a while (I certainly do!), there’s a difference between saying “F*&^” in the situation Vickie described and using cursing to intimidate or make people uncomfortable. And if curse words or vulger language is the only thing people can use to express themselves, they aren’t getting their message across very well.

By: Casey Dawes

Casey Dawes — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:06:04 +0000

While I agree that Tannen’s premise is true–people expect different language from women and men in the workplace–I also agree with you that foul language really has no place. It either shows the person is trying to control another, offend them to shut them up, or that they have a limited vocabulary. I have one client that likes to use rough language when we’re talking (it’s a man), and I do find it offensive…however, I find a simple “mother/teacher” stare over the glasses usually changes his mode of talking.

I think there’s some boundary issues here too. We do get to stand up and say, “Those words offend me and I don’t believe they’re appropriate in this situation.” A lesson the board of Yahoo could have heeded well before there was a need to fire Ms. Bartz.

By: Vickie Pynchon

Vickie Pynchon — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:35:24 +0000

People in power are free to say F*** and they do it all the time. I’ve never been in a work environment in which cursing is entirely absent.

No one should curse at another person, but that’s not the only use of the word.

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, opposing counsel sends you notice of a hearing scheduled for the Monday after Thanksgiving which means you have to work on the holiday weekend.

“Darn” just doesn’t express it.

See my post The Case for Cursing here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/shenegotiates/2011/09/16/the-case-for-cursing/